Car truck



Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 16, 1943. A. H. 'OELKERS CAR TRUCK Filed July 2-1,V1941 Feb. 16, 1943. A. H. oELKERs CAR TRUCK Filed July 21, 1941 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

alfred/7 eZ// A.H.OELKERS Feb. 16,1943..

GAR TRUCK Filed July 2l, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

BY @www @ez/gef@ QM.. l

Patented Feb. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (ol. s-197.1)

24 Claims.

Myinvention concerns railway car trucks;v and more particularly a fourwheel freight` car truck utilizing truss side frames and a connectingbolster.

My present invention consists of an improved form of four wheel railwaycar truck wherein each truss, side frame comprises a compression member,a tension member, and spaced columns defining with said members acentral bolster opening and spaced window openings. Each tension memberbelow the bolster opening is a U-section alfording seats for a pluralityof coil springs and on said coil springs may be superposed plate springsextending across the bolster opening with their ends projecting throughaligned openings in the columns at opposite sides of the bolsteropening, each of said ends being seated on a vertically slidable blockor spring plate supported at an intermediate point on the tensionmember.

Generally, the object of my invention is to devise an improvementv in awell-.known form of four Wheel freight car truck Whose principalidentifying characteristic consists of a bolster structure having abifurcated end portion which f e may seat at spaced points on asemi-elliptic spring which, in turn, may be superposed on a plurality ofcoil springs so that the leaves of the semi-elliptic spring are'squeezed between the superposed load and the supporting coil springs.The general form of this truck is set iorthin my previous Patent No.2,051,649, issued by the United States Patent Oice August 18, 1936.

My present application illustrates an improved form of such truckwherein the semi-elliptic or flat plate springs` are supported within atruss type side frame and the ends of said leaf springs are slidablysupported in the diagonal portions of the tension member of each sideframe on abutment blocks serving also as spring caps, said blocks beingsupported on coil springs.

In my present novel arrangement, I may utilize a plate spring structuremade up of a plurality of spring bars of identical size and shape whichare maintained in proper relationshipv with each other to perform thefunction of a semielliptic or leaf spring without the use of a'springband and without the necessity of arching or otherwise forming theindividual spring leaves. The advantages resulting from such simplicitywill be apparent.

It may be noted also that with the structure described herein I haveafforded a considerably longer spring travel without overstressing theleaf springs or working them under a long ei` stress range than would.be desirable- This I havev accomplished by supportingthe leaf Springsmit onlyat. intermediate peints en the coil springs but also at theextremities of the leaves. Thusthe range of ber stresstowhich the leavesmayv be subjected in serv-ice is controlled byV the relative stiffnessofV the coil springs supporting thev leaves and this may be modiied asdesired toY meet; varying conditions. By this means, I may control the,vtotal flexure of the, leaf' springs and, at, the same time, accommodatevarying conditions of bolster travelling requirements.

A specic. object ofv my invention is to devise' anovel form of trusstype side frame particularly adapted for the type of freight car truckherein illustrated.

My invention comprehends a novel form of truss type side4 frame whereinspaced columns are alorded inboard and outboard portions with openings.aligned longitudinally of the frame between the column portions. foraccommodation of an associatedI plate spring and wherein each tensionmember isaorded a cavity intermediate the Wheel connecting portion and'the adjacent column which may house a coil spring for support of one endof said plate spring. My novel sideframe structure may afford abutmentmeans adjacent said last-mentioned spring seat for an associatedslidable spring cap.

Mynovel side frame structure comprehends an arrangement wherein theupper portion of each column may serve as a guide surface for theadjacent bolster and the upper portions of said columns affording asubstantially flat surface for that purpose extending entirely acrossthe frame while the intermediate portion o f the column is cut away,v asalreadyV described, to accommodate a4 series of plate springs extendingtherethrough, theI opening in each of said columns closely coniining theside edgesV o f said spring to a vertical upv and down movementconsistent with the normal Operation of ther truck.

In my no vel form of side frame, the tension member is. substantially ofU.section from one end; of the frame t0 the other, said U-section havingits greatest depth intermediate the journal box and the adjacent lcolumns; where an auxiliary spring seat. is alforded at each end of theframe. The shalloWeSt pOltion of the U-A sectien is beneath the bolsterOpening, and 0n the bottom web of said U--section maybe afforded aplurali-,ty4 0i seats for coil springs onwhich may be superposed theplate springs.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a railway car truckstructure embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a half top plan View thereof, only one-half of the truckbeing shown inasmuch as the arrangement is similar at both sidesthereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially in the transversevertical plane bisecting the truck and as indicated by the line 3-3 ofFigure 1, a portion of the bolster being shown in side elevation.

Figures 4, 5, 6, and '7 show in detail my novelA form of side frame,Figure 4 being a side elevation thereof with only one end of thestructure shown since it is similar at opposite ends, Figure 5 being afragmentary topplan View thereof,

Figure 6 a fragmentary bottom plan View, and Figure 7 a sectional Viewtaken substantially in the transverse vertical plane bisecting the frameas indicated by the line 1-1 of Figure 14.

My novel truck structure utilizes spaced truss type side frames ofidentical form each having a compression member 2 of inverted U-section,a tension member 4 of U-section, and spaced columns 6, Gimerging withsaid members to form a central bolster opening 8 and spaced windowopenings I0, I6, said members also converging adjacent the ends of theframe and merging with integrally formed journal boxes I2, I2 forming aconventional means of connection to the journal ends of spaced wheel andaxle assemblies i4, I4. At `they upper part of each column and on theinboard side of each frame may be formed the usual brake hanger bracketsI6, 'I6 (Figure 2).

Extending within the bolster opening 8 may be the end portion of thebolster generally designated I B, said bolster having a center bearing20 and a side bearing 22 together with the 'brake beam guard angle iron24 supported as at 26 (Figure 3) from a bracket depending centrally fromthe bottom of said bolster. The central body portion of the bolster I8may be of conventional box structure, and each end of the bolster isbifurcated following a well-known form, each leg'of the bifurcated endportion being designed as a downturned jaw designated 28 for fixing theVposition of the bolster I8 with respect to the supporting plate springassembly generally designated 29. The outboard portion of each jaw28 hasa depth A (Figure 3) somewhat less than the clearance B above the top ofthe bolster and the bottom of the compression member 2 thereabove sothatsaid bolster end may be elevated above the spring structure on which itis seated and removed from the bolster opening 8 without disturbing saidspring structure. The inboard portion of each jaw 28a1ords abutment forthe inner edge of the plate spring assembly 29, said inboard abutmentextendingfor substantially the depth of said spring and having adepending lug 30 extending still further and so positioned as edge ofthe jaw nearest the transverse center y line of the truck, the bearingsurface on the bolsterbeing arcuat'ely 4relieved therefrom as may be'noted at'34, 34 (Figure 1),'thus permitting increased bearing area andshortening of the lever arm as the load is increased. .When the springassembly is depressed, the area of bearing of the bolster end upon thetop plate spring 29 is increased and reaches a maximum when the saidspring is depressed to its utmost.

The plate spring assembly 29 comprises a plurality of flat plate springswithout camber superposed one above the other, and said plate springsare not secured in assemblyby any spring band or other means ,but areretained in their normal assembled relationship solely by the manner inwhich they are assembled between the inboard and outboard portions ofthe spaced columns .of the side frame, the manner in which their endportions are supported on the slidable abutment blocks or' spring caps36, 36, and further by the squeezing 'action of the intermediate groupof coil springs 38, 38, each of said coil springs 3B having its low endrecessed in the U-section tension member and positioned therein byupright studs 46, 49. The detailed form of each end .abutment block orspring cap 36 may be seen :from a considerationof the top plan view of'Figure 2 and the side elevation of Figure 1. Said block consists ofinboard and outboard side Walls .42, 42 merging with a rear ortransverse wall 44,

said transverse wall having the spaced vertical flanges 46, 46 which mayhave slidable engagement as at i8 against the vertical transverse web 50formed as an integral portion of the tension member and extendingbetween the inboard and outboard walls thereof. The base portion of eachend block 36 is formed as a substantially rectangular plate having onits bottom face spring positioning means 52 for the adjacent endcoil'spring 54, the bottom of said coil spring being seated as at 55 onthe bottom web of the tension member therebelow and positioned thereonby the upstanding lug 58. The transverse web of the tension member isformed at this point with a substantially horizontalportion, and at theouter edge of said horizontal portion said web turns sharply upwardly tomerge as at 6D with the lower inner corner of the adjacent journal box.Each spring cap or end block 36 thus affords a seat as at 62 for theadjacent end of the spring assembly 29, and the seat on the block forsaid spring assembly may be arcuately relieved as at 64 (Figure 1) sothat the lever arm may be steadily shortened as the load is increaseddue to the arcuate bearing areas at 64 and 34. The side walls of eachbearing block 36 may have slidable engagement'with the inboard andoutboard vertical webs of the tension member which may be increasedsomewhat in depth therealong as at 66 in order to aord more completebearing area for said side walls.

My novel side frame structure is shown in detail in Figures 4 to 7inclusive. I have already stated the sid-e frame is of truss type havingthe compression member 2 of general inverted U- section having a top web68, a downturned outboard web l0, and an inboard web 12. The structureof the compression member is reinforced by the rib 14 extendingtransversely thereof at the middle of the frame, as well as by a rib 16above each window opening I5) and by the transverse wall 'i3 at the topof each column which affords bearing area for the adjacent side wall ofthe bolster end. The vertical Wall 18 is continuous at its upper endwith a horizontal portion 19, and between the columns, the inboardand'outboard webs 'I0 and 12'of the compression member areY reflanged asat 8|, 8| to furtherreinforce said member.. Each transverse Wall 18 atthe top of thecolurnniis cored'away centrally thereof as at Bil in arectangular opening, the inboard and outboard edges of which at 82,. 82(Figure 7) aord positioning means for the, before-mentioned plate springassembly 29 which extends therebetween and said plate springs may.

have frictional engagement with said 4edges 82, 82 under certainconditions of relative movement of the bolster with respect to the sideframes, thus affording some damping action.

The top web 68 ofthe compression member is continuous from end to end ofthe frame terminating in an arcuate edge 84 above the inner wall of theadjacent journal box and aording clearance at each end therefor abovesaid journal box to permit the application or removal thereover of theplates of the spring assembly 29, said plates being unconned withrespect to one another so that they may be handled singly thusfacilitating their application and removal while at the same timereducing to a single form of spring plate the stock requirements whichmust be on hand for repair purposes.

Each column S is U-section along its upper portion and to the upper edgeof the cored opening 88. each column therebelow having an L-section asat 85 (Figure 7) along its midportion, the transverse flanges of whichterminate as at 88, 88 so that therebelow each column is a simple wailstructure reinforced along its outboard edges by beaded portions as at9i) and 92. The bolster guide surface on each column therefor extendsfrom the top of the bolster opening 8 downwardly to the ledges orshoulders at 8S. Below the shoulders B, the window opening I8 hasmaximum width as may be noted at 94 thus permitting substantially fullinspectionA of the coil springs which are seated in the tension memberbelow said opening.

The tension member'll is of U-section from end to end, the sectionhaving its shallowest portion beneath the bolster opening* 8 andcomprising there, as elsewhere, a bottom web- 96, an inboard verticalwall or web 98, and an outboard wall lei! with a plurality of verticalribs H32 extending between said walls intermediate the coil spring seatsformed at the bottom of said window opening. The transverse web 95 ofthe tension member affords said spring seats as at les, H34, and each ofsaid spring seats may have a lug 4Q serving to position the coil springswhich may be seated thereon. Substantially beneath each column the web96 may be cored away in an opening H18 to permit escape of Water orother extraneous matter, and above said opening and at the base of eachcolumn may be formed at the top of the tension member a transverse webHil (Figure 7) serving to reinforce the side frame structure in thisvital area, said web Hi) extending along the bottom of the windowopening l) and terminating as at H2 adjacent the lower extremity of theupright wing portion 66 formed as a continuation of each inboard andoutboard web of the tension member to enclose the spring cap andabutment block which may be positioned therebetween as alreadydescribed. The upper end of the wing portion 66 may terminate as at IIB(Figure 4) immediately above the transverse web 50 which extends betweenthe inboard and outboard walls of the tension member and affords withsaid walls a housing or pocket IIT for the spring cap and abutment blockwhich may have vertical sliding movement therealong. Each wall of thetension member within the pocket 'thus Gil formed has a,4 raised portionas at IIB,l l I8 (Fig.- ure 6) which; may be machined or otherwiseformed smooth and true to` aord abutment for the side Walls of theenclosed spring cap 36 as already described, said raised yportions beingin substantial alignment with the before-mentioned abutment means 82,82` on the columns and also serving as guiding means for the springassembly 29 conned therebetween. Immediately below the pocket I l1, thetransverse web 96 of the tension member may be formed with a horizontalportion defining the spring seat |20 and on said, seat may be formed thespring positioning means 58, the web 96 turning upwardly from the edgeof the spring seat |20 to merge as at with the inner lower edge of theadjacent journal box. Thus, the inboard and outboard webs 98 and lili)of the tension member have their greatest'depth in the vicinity of thespring seat |23 and the pocket H1, said side walls having in this area adepth substantially twice that at the midportion of the frame and soaccommodating a coil spring assembly which may be seated on the springseat |20 and afford support for the superposed slidable abutment meansand spring cap which may be housed in the pocket H1 as alreadydescribed. Each side-wall of the tension member in the vicinity of saidend spring assembly may be cored away as at |26 to permit inspection ofthe springs housed therein.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exactembodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustrationand not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, ofcourse, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1-. In a railway car truck, a side frame having upper and lower membersand spaced columns forming therewith a bolster opening and spaced windowopenings, coil springs seated on said lower member beneath said windowopenings adjacent opposite ends of the frame, spring caps slidablyengaged with said lower member and seated on said springs, other coilsprings supported on said lower member below said bolster opening, aplate spring assembly supported on said coil springs inV said bolsteropening with the extremities thereof seated on said caps, and a bolstersupported on said plate spring assembly'in said bolster opening inguiding engagement with said columns, said bolsterl having downturnedjaw means engaging the outboard and inboard edges of said plate springassembly, and the outboard portions of said jaw means having a depthless than the clearance between said compression member and the top ofsaid bolster to permit removal of said bolster from said bolster openingwhile said plate spring "in, spring seats on the bottom chord of saidtension member beneathr said pockets, and other spring seats on saidtension member beneath said bolster opening, all of said spring seatsbeing aligned longitudinally of said frame and said columns havingvertical openings aligned longitudinally of said frame and with saidpockets to accommodate an associated spring member, each of said columnsaffording lateral abutment means for said spring member 3. In a railwaycar truck of quick wheel change type, a truss side frame having tensionand compression members and spaced columns forming therewith a centralbolster opening and spaced window openings, coil springs supported onsaid tension member below each of said openings, a plate spring assemblysupported at spaced points on said coil springs, and a bolster having anend projecting into said bolster opening and supported at spaced pointson said plate spring assembly, said bolster end having a plurality ofdownturned jaw means confining said plate spring assembly, the outboardportions of said jaw means having a depth less than the clearancebetween the top of said bolster end and the overlying portion of saidcompression member, and the inboard portions of said jaw means beingextended below the lowermost of said plate springs to aord abutmenttherefor when said bolster end is elevated in a shimming operation.

4. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising tension andcompression members andv spaced columns merging therewith to form acentral bolster opening and spaced window openings, coil springs seatedon said tension member below said openings, slidable abutment blockssupported in said tension member on the end coil springs, leaf springssuperposed on said intermediate coil springs with their ends supportedon said blocks, a bolster having an end extending into sai-d bolsteropening in guiding engagement with said columns, said bolster having jawmeans embracing said plate spring at spaced points, said jaw meanshaving oppositely tapered areas bearing against said plate springs topermit rincreased beaiing area thereagainst as the superposed load isincreased, and each of said blocks having an arcuately tapered seatingsurface to permit shortening of the lever arm as said plate spring isflexed under load.

5. A truss side frame having tension and compression members mergingadjacent their ends with integral journal boxes, spaced columns formingwith said members a bolster opening and spaced window openings, saidcompression member having an inverted U-section and said tension memberhaving a U-section with maximum depth adjacent said journal boxes,transverse webs extending between the inboard and outboard walls of saidtension member adjacent said boxes to deiine with said walls pockets forassociated spring caps slidably positioned therein, spring seats on thebottom chord of said tension member beneath said pockets, and otherspring seats on said tension member beneath said bolster opening, all ofsaid spring seats being aligned longitudinally of said frame and saidcolumns having vertical openings aligned longitudinally of said frameand with said pockets to accommodate an associated spring member.

6. In a railway car truck of quick wheel change type, a truss side framehaving tension and compression members and spaced columns formingtherewith a central bolster opening and spaced window openings, coilsprings supported on said tension member below each of said openings, a

l plate spring assembly supported at spaced points on said coil springs,and a bolster having an end projecting into said bolster opening andsupported at spaced points on said plate spring assembly, said bolsterend having a plurality of downturned jaw means confining said platespring assembly, the outboard portions of said jaw means having a depthless than the clearance between the top of said bolster end and theoverlying portion of said compression member to permit the removal-ofsaid bolster end from said bolster opening while all of said springsremain in assembled relationship with said side frame.

7. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising tension andcompression members and spaced columns merging therewith to form acentral bolster opening and spaced window openings, coil springs seatedon said tension member below said openings, slidable abutment blockssupported in said tension member on the end coil springs, leaf springssuperposed on said intermediate coil springs with their ends supportedon said blocks, and a bolster having an end extending into said bolsteropening in guiding engagement with said columns, said bolster having jawmeans embracing said plate springs at spaced points, each of said blocksand each of said jaw means having seating engagement with said platesprings along a tapered surface to aiord a shortening levering arm assaid plate spring is depressed under load.

8. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising tension andcompression members and spaced columns merging therewith to form acentral bolster opening and spaced window openings, coil springs seatedon said tension member below said openings, slidable abutment blockssupported in said tension member on the end coil springs, leaf springssuperposed on said intermediate coil springs with their ends supportedon said blocks, and a bolster having an end extending into said bolsteropening in guiding engagement with said columns, said bolster having jawmeans embracing said plate springs at spaced points, said jaw meanshaving oppositely tapered areas bearing against said plate springs topermit increased bearing area thereagainst as the superposed load isincreased.

9. In a railwaycar truck, a side frame having upper and lower membersand spaced columns formm therewith a bolster opening and spaced windowopenings, coil springs seated on said lower member beneath said windowopenings adjacent opposite ends of the frame, spring caps slidablyengaged with said lower member and seated on said springs, other coilsprings supported on said lower member below said bolster opening, aplate spring assembly supported on said coil springs in said bolsteropening with the extremities thereof seated on said caps, and a bolstersupported at spaced points on said plate spring assembly in said bolsteropening, the bearing areas of said bolster on said plate spring assemblybeing oppositely tapered to afford a shortening lever arm as said platespring is placed under load.

10. A truss side frame having tension and compression members mergingadjacent their ends with integral journal boxes, spaced columns formingwith said members a bolster opening and spaced window openings, saidcompression member having an inverted U-section and said tension memberhaving a U-section with maximum depth adjacent said journal boxes,

transverse webs extending between thelinboard and outboard walls -of-saidtension member adjacent saidboXes to denne with `said walls pocketsfor associated spring caps slidably positioned therein, openings -insaid columns aligned with said pockets, spring seats on the Abottomchord of said tension member beneath said pockets, and other springseats on said tension member1 beneath said bolster opening.

l1. In a railway car truck, a side frame having upper and lower membersand spaced columns forming therewith a bolster opening and spaced windowopenings, coil springs Yseated on said lower member beneath said windowopenings adjacent opposite ends of said frame, other coil springssupported on said lower member below said bolster opening, a platespring assembly Asupported on said'coil springs, and 4a bolstersupported at spaced points on said plate spring assembly in said bolsteropening, the bearing areas of said bolster on said assembly beingoppositely tapered to aiord a shortening lever arm as said assembly isplaced-under load.

l2. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a bolster opening, acoil spring group on said frame, a plate spring assembly supported fromsaid group in said opening, said assembly consisting of a plurality ofsuperposed relatively movable plates abutting throughout their length,means on said frame for retaining said plates in assembly, and a bolsterend mounted on said assembly.

13. In a side frame for a railway car truck, tension and compressionmembers and spaced columns dening therewith a bolster opening and spacedwindow openings, coil springs seated on said tension member beneath saidopenings, openings in said columns aligned longitudinally of said frame,a plate spring assembly comprising superposed relatively movableabutting plates extending through said column openings and supported onsaid coil springs, and means at the ends of said frame abutting saidassembly whereby said plates are retained in normal assembledrelationship.

14. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columnspartly dening a bolster opening, resilient means in said openingcomprising a group of coil springs supported on said frame and a platespring assembly mounted on said group, said assembly consisting of aplurality of superposed relatively movable plates abutting each otherthroughout their length, means on said frame for retaining said platesin assembly, and a bolster mounted on said assembly.

15. A truss side frame having tension and compression members mergingadjacent their ends, spaced columns integrally formed with said membersto form a bolster opening and spaced window openings, abutment means insaid tension member adjacent opposite ends of the frame, verticalopenings in said columns aligned with said abutment means, spring seatson said tension member beneath said abutment means and at spaced pointsbelow said bolster opening, and a plurality of webs joining the inboardand outboard walls of said tension member intermediate said springseats.

16. A truss side frame having tension and compression members mergingadjacent their ends, spaced columns integrally formed with said membersto form a bolster opening and spaced window openings, abutment means insaid tension member adjacent opposite ends of the each other frame,vertical openings in fsaid columns aligned with said abutment means, andspring seats on said tension member beneath said abutment means `and atspaced points below said bolster opening, said tension member havingmaximum depth `adjacent said abutment means and minimum depth beneathsaid bolster opening.

17. In a railway car 'truck (of 'quick wheel change type, a truss sideframe having tension and compression members and spaced columns formingtherewith a central bolster opening and spaced lwindow openings, coilspring'ssupported on said tension member below each of said openings, aplate spring assembly supported at spaced points onsaid coil springs,and a bolster having an end projecting into said bolster vopening landsupported on said plate spring assembly, said end having inboard andoutboard ja'w means c'on'nin'g said assembly, said outboard jaw meansbeing of limited depth whereby said end may be raised in. 'said vopeningand removed therefrom `during a Aquick wheel change.

18. In a railway carftruck, -a side frame co`m` prising a bolsteropening, resilient means comprising a plate spring assembly, saidassembly consisting of a plurality of superposed relatively movableplates abuttirg each other throughout their length, means on said framefor retaining said plates in assembly, a bolster in said opening mountedon said assembly, and a spring group on said frame supporting saidassembly and permitting relative vertical movement thereof with respectto said frame.

19. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columnspartly defining a bolster opening, openings in said column, spacedresilient means mounted on said frame, a plate spring assembly supportedon said means and comprising a plurality of superposed relativelymovable abutting plates projecting at opposite ends thereof through saidcolumn openings, means at the end of said frame for restraining saidplates against longitudinal movement with respect thereto, said platesbeing restrained against lateral movement by abutment with inboard andoutboard edges of said column openings, and a bolster in said bolsteropening mounted on said assembly.

20. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising tension andcompression members and spaced columns dei'lning therewith a bolsteropening and spaced window openings, coil springs seated on said tensionmember beneath said openirms, longitudinally aligned openings in saidcolumns, abutment means at each end of said frame, a plurality ofidentical parallel plate springs seated on said coil springs extendingthrough said column openings and abutting said means, and a bolster endseated upon said plate springs, said plate springs being held inassembled relationship by their abutment with said means and with theinboard and outboard edges of said column openings.

21. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising tension andcompression members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolsteropening and spaced window openings, coil springs seated on said tensionmember beneath said openings, openings in said columns alignedlongitudinally of said frame, a plate spring assembly comprisingidentical superposed abutting plates extending through said columnopenings and supported on said coil springs, means at the ends of saidframe abutting said assembly whereby said plates are retained in normalassembled relationship, and a bolster end supported on said assembly.

22. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising tension andcompression members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolsteropening and spaced window openings, coil springs seated on said tensionmember beneath said openings, openings in said columns, a plate springassembly comprising identical superposed plates extending through saidcolumn openings and supported by said coil springs, movable meansconfining the ends of said plate springs and supported on certain ofsaid coil springs, and a bolster end supported on ysaid assembly.

23. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising tension andcompression members and spaced columns dening therewith a' bolsteropening and spaced window openings, coil springs seated on said tensionmember beneath said openings, openings in said columns alignedlongitudinally of said frame, abutment means sldably supported from saidframe on certain of said coil springs, a plate spring assembly extendingthrough said column openings and seated on said abutment means and onother of said coil springs, and a bolster end supported on saidassembly. p

24. In a railway car truck of quick wheel change type, a truss sideframe comprising vtension and compression members and spaced columnsforming therewith a bolster opening and spaced window openings, coilsprings supported on said tension member, a plate spring assemblysupported on said coil springs, and a bolster comprising an end receivedwithin said bolster opening and supported on said plate spring assembly,said bolster end having inboard and outboard jaw means conning saidassembly, said outboard jaw means having a depth less than the clearancebetween the top of said bolster end and the overlying portion of saidcompression member whereby said end may be elevated in said bolster'opening and removed therefrom during a quick wheel change.

ALFRED H. OELKERS.

